March 2006 News Archive

From CFI

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Ecuador's Interior Minister Steps Down

By JEANNETH VALDIVIESO, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 15, 10:55 PM ET

Ecuador's interior minister resigned Wednesday as protests over a U.S. free trade plan spread from the Andean highlands to the oil-producing southeast jungle, where police clashed with demonstrators.

In the face of the growing unrest, President Alfredo Palacio went on national television and urged Ecuadorans to "close ranks" to defend the country's democracy.

Palacio said the protests were "the culmination of deceptive politics that seeks to perversely tear apart the nation."

Interior Minister Alfredo Castillo's decision came a day after he warned that protests by Indians, oil workers and jungle residents could lead to "another coup."

The offical didn't offer a public explanation for his resignation, but it followed widespread criticism that his comments appeared to support the protesters and showed disloyalty to Palacio.

Television broadcast images Wednesday of soldiers firing tear gas to disperse a small group of protesters in the jungle province of Pastaza. The protesters had tried to seize facilities of Agip Oil Corp. to demand more government spending in their area.

The protesters also seized 15 soldiers in Puyo, about 100 miles southeast of Quito, Red Cross spokeswoman Maria Elena de Mantilla said. About 30 people, including civilians and military personnel, were treated for minor injuries.

In Quito, police used tear gas to force back dozens of protesters who tried to reach the government palace in the capital city.

Ecuador's main Indian movement, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, began blockading roads and highways Monday and have threatened to overthrow Palacio's government if he signs a free-trade pact with the U.S.

CONAIE also has demanded that Ecuador cancel oil concession granted to U.S.-based Occidental Petroleum Corp., which has been embroiled in tax and contract disputes with Ecuador's government since August 2004.

The confederation accused Palacio of reaching a "compromise with the nation's oligarchies" and "committing the country to a process of no return with the signing of a free trade deal with the United States."

Government spokesman Enrique Proano said the protesters' demands to expel Occidental and immediately withdraw Ecuador's free trade negotiators from a final round of talks do not "merit consideration."

"It would seem what they seek is a destabilization of democracy," he said.

Deputy Interior Minister Felipe Vega told reporters that Palacio was seeking meetings with Indian leaders to explain the government's position on the trade talks. Palacio also sought meetings with jungle residents to consider their demands for more government spending, Vega said.

The U.S. on Feb. 27 wrapped up negotiations to eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers with Colombia, the second Andean nation to reach a free trade deal with the United States.

The agreement with Colombia followed a deal wrapped up in December with Peru. Negotiations are still under way with Ecuador. Bolivia has participated as an observer and could become part of the agreement at a later date.

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CONSERVING THE FORESTS OF PASO ALTO AND EL QUINDE

http://www.intagnewspaper.org/IN38_EV1.html

Edmundo Varela*

The forests of Paso Alto and El Quinde are two large forest remnants in the parish of San José de Minas, Quito county, and the parish of Selva Alegre, Otavalo county. The Paso Alto range, like that of Aparejos, where the El Quinde forest is located, are located on the western flank of the Andes. These ranges are of volcanic origin, with thin, fragile soils. The vegetation is dense, and lies between 1600 and 3200 meters above sea level. As a result, these are classified by biologists as montane forests.

Paso Alto and El Quinde are part of the Andean Chocó, a region exceptional for its biodiversity, home to millions of species of flora and fauna, including a number of endemic species, or plant and animal species found only in this part of the world. For these reasons, the area is of special interest to scientists, who discover new species with each visit.

AACRI’s interest in Paso Alto and El Quinde The forests of Paso Alto and El Quinde generate water that feeds hundreds of streams that, in turn, flow into the Quinde, Pamplona, Daule and Cambugan rivers. These rivers are essential for farming and other domestic activities in the surrounding communities.

For Intag, these forests are indispensable: they generate a large quantity of the humidity deposited in Intag by wind, thus compensating for diminishing rainfall due to deforestation. As a result, farmers enjoy an ideal climate with sufficient precipitation to keep our lands green even during the harsh, dry summers.

The destruction of these forests would have grave consequences for both agriculture and cattle raising in Intag, a region located between the barren areas of Pomasqui, Guayllabamba and San José de Minas. The forests of Paso Alto and El Quinde form a barrier to the desertification of Intag. Without these forests, our land would become unproductive, the summers would become much longer, and ours would be a desert landscape.

The conservation of the forests In light of the above, the Río Intag Agro-artisanal Coffee Growers Association (AACRI) has developed a proposal for the conservation of the Paso Alto and El Quinde forests. The proposal includes participation by communities, landowners, local organizations, NGOs, and parish and municipal councils. Together with these actors, AACRI and the United Brethren Foundation (FBU) have begun the implementation of the project entitled “Participatory Conservation of the Mount Quinde Forest,” financed by the Program for Andean Forests and Ecosystems (PROBONA). The project’s major goal is conservation of natural resources in order to benefit the communities of Pamplona, Santa Rosa, and Quinde.

Authorities from Otavalo county have participated in a series of meetings with the Civil Forum to analyze the importance of the forests of El Quinde. In addition, on May 19, Mayor Mario Conejo and county council members visited the area to learn about the area’s potential first hand. With Vladmir Santander, president of the Parish Council of Selva Alegre, members of the “Association El Quinde,” and residents of communities in the area, the County Council met in the community of Pamplona. The eight council members pronounced their support for the conservation project, emphasizing benefits that will be enjoyed as a result by communities in the area. Their commitment to this cause includes implementation of the following activities: 1. Creation of an inter-institutional body table to implement the project and to generate other proposal to benefit communities and forests; 2. Implementation of Community Tourism projects as an economic alternative for communities in the area; 3. Searching for financial and technical support to ensure the implementation of the program in forests and surrounding communities.

Representatives of the county and parish councils, communities and NGOs signed a letter of commitment during their visit.

• President de AACRI